LAST YEAR — Woodward-Granger held Interstate-35 to 79 yards passing while yielding only 29 yards on 28 rushes in handing the Roadrunners a 28-7 loss. This is the second consecutive year the teams will open their Class 1A District 8 slates against each other.
The Hawks had only 52 yards in the air, but did not need them, as the ground game chewed up 276 yards on 52 carries while providing four touchdowns. Of those returning, Tanner Vermaas had 61 yards on 11 rushes and Race Brant 38 yards and a score on three runs.
W-G’s defense picked off I-35 Jaylon White three times while recording nine sacks.
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS — A 21-7 loss at Nevada opened I-35’s season, but a 40-7 win over visiting Martensdale-St. Marys (who W-G topped, 8-0, in week one) pulled the Roadrunner record to an even 1-1.
White is 16-of-24 for 192 yards and two scores through the air, but has proven his dual-threat bona fides with 30 carries for 252 yards and four TDs.
Taylor O’Dea (8-79), Daniel Kennedy (3-86, 1 TD), Beau Egli (3-20) and Chace Garner (2-7, 1 TD) have caught White aerials so far.
Mason Cassidy (19-83, 1 TD) and Egli (28-71) have been the main rushers aside from White.
The defense has recorded three interceptions and recovered three fumbles in two games. They are led by Blake Kozak, whose 10 tackles make him the only player with double-digit stops for the Roadrunners.
ABOUT THE HAWKS — W-G blanked Martensdale-St. Marys, 8-0, but fell at Madrid, 42-6, in standing at 1-1.
Quarterback Brendan Bird has been asked to do little in the air and is just 5-of-14 for 41 yards. Race Brant (2-8), Johnnie Morgan (1-22), Logan Canova (1-6) and Austin Scharlau (1-5) have the receptions for the Hawks.
Tanner Vermaas has accounted for both touchdowns scored by W-G this season, both of which came on runs of two yards. He has 133 yards on 42 carries, with Josh Saak providing 40 yards on 11 runs and Brant 31 yards on nine rushes.
Scharlau leads the defense with 14 tackles, with Morgan making 9.5 stops and Saak nine. The Hawks have recovered five opponent fumbles through two games.
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PROBABLE STARTERS:
WOODWARD-GRANGER Offense
No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
58 LT Drew Jacobson 11 6-2 230
62 LG James Barger 12 6-0 210
74 C Josh Groves 12 5-10 245
52 RG Hunter Vermaas 12 5-10 220
71 RT Brody Easter 10 6-2 225
33 TE Logan Canova 10 6-2 222
14 QB Brendan Bird 10 6-0 195
27 FB Josh Saak 10 5-9 160
28 TB Tanner Vermaas 11 5-10 188
20 SB Race Brant 12 5-8 168
13 SE Johnnie Morgan 12 6-0 165
WOODWARD-GRANGER Defense
No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
33 DE Logan Canova 10 6-2 222
58 DT Drew Jacobson 11 6-2 230
52 DT Hunter Vermaas 12 5-10 220
61 DE Joe Sturgeon 10 6-0 225
55 LB Nick Musich 12 5-10 170
27 LB Josh Saak 10 5-9 160
28 LB Tanner Vermaas 11 5-10 188
24 LB Austin Scharlau 10 5-9 155
13 FS Johnnie Morgan 12 6-0 165
20 CB Race Brant 12 5-8 168
5 CB J. P. Nixon 10 5-9 160
NOTES — W-G did not provide a probable starter at PK/P. No response to repeated requests for starters from Interstate-35 was received.
